Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowships

Learn, network while working in Washington, D.C.

Application deadline: February 22, 2019, by 5:00 pm Pacific

NEW! Oregon Sea Grant will host a brief informational webinar about our NOAA and Sea Grant Winter Graduate Fellowship Opportunities on Friday, January 4, 2019, from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. Pacific. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. If you missed the webinar, the slides are linked here.

Notice for Application Submission: Oregon Sea Grant is using a new system, called eSeaGrant, for submitting fellowship applications. In order to access this system, you must email eseagrant@oregonstate.edu by February8, 2019, declaring your interest in applying. Stating your interest does not obligate you to apply. Once you submit your interest in this fellowship, an eSeaGrant account will be created for you. All components of your application, including letters of recommendation, will be submitted through this system. This is a new system that may take some time to learn how to navigate, and we are here to provide assistance as needed; however, please do not wait until the last minute to apply.

Purpose of the Fellowship: The Knauss Fellowship Program provides a unique educational experience to students enrolled in graduate programs in fields related to marine or Great Lakes studies. The program matches highly qualified graduate students with hosts in the legislative branch, the executive branch, or appropriate associations and institutions located in the Washington, D.C. area. Recipients spend one year working on substantive national policy issues related to marine issues; a stipend is provided.

Eligibility: The Fellowship is open to any student who, as of February 21, 2019, is enrolled toward a degree in a graduate or professional program that has interest in ocean, coastal and Great Lake resources and in national policy decisions affecting those resources at an institution of higher education in the United States or US Territories.

Learn more:

In this video produced by Maryland SeaGrant, legislative fellows discuss why they chose their placement and what they do. A 2017 Knauss fellowship alumni survey revealed some obscurity around what legislative fellows do. Both executive and legislative placements are exceptional professional opportunities for fellows. The placement you request depends on your professional goals, skills, and interests. Before you choose, you can benefit from considering information about both.

Marine science and policy professionals talk about how their Knauss Fellowship years changed their lives and shaped their careers, in this video from Alaska Sea Grant:

Read what Knauss Alumni had to say about their fellowship experience:

“The Knauss Fellowship has provided me with clarity on the trajectory of my career, and confidence in my decision to continue to pursue a career at the boundary of science and policy.”

-- Sarah Close, 2014 Executive Fellow (NOAA’s Climate Program Office)

“My portfolio includes environmental issues, infrastructure, fisheries, ocean issues, and energy issues. Working on such a broad portfolio has allowed me to have expansive experience working in many aspects of policy, which will transfer well when I begin applying for jobs after the fellowship.”

“Outside of my role at NOAA Fisheries, there were many other opportunities I was able to take part in or attend. (Note to future fellows: attend as many events as possible!) I am still amazed at the array of events in DC that are open to the public, if you just have (or make) the time.”

-- Jenny Thompson, 2013 Executive Fellow (NOAA’s Office of Policy)

NEW! Webinar recording: Did you miss Oregon Sea Grant's Winter Fellowship Webinar? Find the webinar recording here. The PowerPoint slides to this presentation are available here. This webinar covers the application process, including use of eSeaGrant, for the NMFS/Sea Grant Population Dynamic and Marine Resource Economics Graduate, NOAA Coastal Management &Digital Coast, and Knauss Marine Policy Fellowships.